Virgin Australia’s New Targeted Platinum Status Challenge

Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program is giving a selected group of members the opportunity to earn back their status by completing a challenge.

Last week, Velocity sent an email to selected frequent flyers who previously held Platinum status but recently downgraded to Gold status. In general, it appears that members who had held Virgin Australia Platinum status for at least several years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic were the target of this offer.

Velocity Frequent Flyer offered multiple status extensions during the pandemic. But these extensions have now come to an end.

What does this Velocity Platinum status challenge involve?

Velocity members who’ve been lucky enough to receive this status challenge offer can upgrade to Platinum status by earning at least 200 status credits within the next three months.

These status credits must be earned on Virgin Australia-operated flights. There is no requirement to complete a minimum number of sectors.

To earn Virgin Australia Platinum status from scratch, you would normally need to earn 1,000 status credits and fly at least 8 eligible Virgin Australia sectors within 12 months.

Other status challenges that might be available to you

This particular new status challenge is an exclusive offer for Velocity members who received an email last week. Unfortunately, it is not available to the general public.

But there is a public status challenge available via Virgin Australia Business Flyer. Businesses that join Virgin Australia Business Flyer and spend at least $2,000 on flights within the first three months can nominate two people for Pilot Gold membership.

This gives nominees the benefits of Velocity Gold status for three months. It also grants the opportunity to extend the Gold status for another year by earning 80 status credits and taking at least one Virgin Australia flight.

Qantas Frequent Flyer also offers an unadvertised “Tier Accelerator” status match challenge. This is available to frequent flyers who already hold status with competing airlines including Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines. Qantas may offer this Gold status challenge, on a case-by-case basis, if you contact the Qantas Frequent Flyer Service Centre to request it.

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 70 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.